Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance evaluation of the SITE® model to estimate energy flux in a tropical semi-deciduous forest of the southern Amazon Basin

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The SITE® model was originally developed to study the response of tropical ecosystems to varying environmental conditions. The present study evaluated the applicability of the SITE model to simulation of energy fluxes in a tropical semi-deciduous forest of the southern Amazon Basin. The model was simulated with data representing the wet and dry season, and was calibrated according to each season. The output data of the calibrated model [net radiation (Rn), latent heat flux (LE) and sensible heat flux (H)] were compared with data observed in the field for validation. Considering changes in parameter calibration for a time step simulation of 30 min, the magnitude of variation in temporal flux was satisfactory when compared to observation field data. There was a tendency to underestimate and overestimate LE and H, respectively. Of all the calibration parameters, the soil moisture parameter presented the highest variation over the seasons, thus influencing SITE model performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackerly DD, Thomas WW, Ferreira CAC, Pirani JR (1989) The forest-cerrado transition zone in southern Amazonia: results of the 1985 Project Flora Amazônica Expedition to Mato Grosso. Brittonia 41:113–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguiar RG, Randow CV, Priante-Filho N, Manzi AO, Aguiar LJG, Cardoso FL (2006) Fluxos de massa e energia em uma floresta tropical no sudeste da Amazônia. Rev Bras Meteorol 21:248–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade NLR, Aguiar RG, Sanches L, Alves ECRF (2009) Nogueira JS (2009) Partição do saldo de radiação em áreas de floresta amazônica e floresta de transição Amazônia-cerrado. Rev Bras Meteorol 24(3):346–355. doi:10.1590/S0102-77862009000300008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldocchi DD, Hicks BB, Meyers TP (1988) Measuring biosphere–atmosphere exchanges of biologically related gases with micrometeorological methods. Ecology 69:1331–1340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldocchi DD, Valentini R, Running S, Oechels W, Dahlman R (1996) Strategies for measuring and modeling carbon dioxide and water vapour fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems. Glob Change Biol 2:159–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinto-Júnior OB, Sanches L, Lobo FA, Brandao AA, Nogueira JS (2010) Leaf area index of a tropical semi-deciduous forest of the southern Amazon Basin. Int J Biometeorol. doi:10.1007/s00484-010-0317-1

  • Cosby BJ, Hornberger RB, Clapp RB, Ginn TR (1984) A statistical exploration of the relationships of soil moisture characteristics to the physical properties of soils. Water Resour Res 20:682–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson RE, Sellers AH, Kennedy PJ, Wilson MF (1984) Biosphere-Atmosphere transfer scheme (BATS) for the NCAR community climate model. NCAR Technical note TN-275 + STR

  • Falkowski P, Scholes RJ, Boyle E, Canadell J, Canfield D, Mackenzie FT, Moore B III, Peersen T, Rosenthal Y, Seitzinger S, Smetacek V, Steffen W (2000) The global carbon cycle: a test of our knowledge of Earth as a system. Science 290:291–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foley JA, Prentice IC, Ramankutty N, Levis S, Pollard D, Sitch S, Haxeltine A (1996) An integrated biosphere model of land surface processes. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 10:603–628

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friend AD (2010) Terrestrial plant production and climate change. J Exp Bot 61(5):1293–1309. doi:10.1093/jxb/erq019

    Google Scholar 

  • Haxeltine A, Prentice IC (1996) Biome 3: An equilibrium terrestrial biosphere model based on ecophysiological constraints, resource availability, and competition among plant functional types. Glob Biogeochem Cycles 10:693–709

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Imbuzeiro HMA (2005) Calibração de um modelo para simular fluxos de massa e energia entre a floresta amazônica e a atmosfera usando múltiplos sítios. Dissertation, Federal University of Viçosa

    Google Scholar 

  • Malhi Y, Pegoraro E, Nobre AD, Pereira MGP, Grace J, Culf AD, Clement R (2002) Energy and water dynamics of a central Amazonian rain forest. J Geophys Res 107:45–1–45–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nobre P, Cavalcanti IFA (1996) Previsão Climática Sazonal no CPTEC- A estação chuvosa de 1995 e 1996 no Nordeste do Brasil. VII Congreso Argentino de Meteorologos, VII Congresso Latino Americano e Iberico de Meteorologia

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunes EL (2008) Algoritmo regional de monitoramento da taxa de fixação de carbono pelas florestas tropicais da América do Sul. Thesis, Federal University of Viçosa

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunes EL, Imbuzeiro HMA, Costa MH (2007) Uso do modelo site para simular fluxos de calor sensível, calor latente e carbono em um sítio de mata atlântica. Apresentado no XV Congresso Brasileiro de Agrometeorologia, 2–5 July 2007, Aracaju, SE, Brasil.

  • Parton W, Stewart J, Cole C (1988) Dynamics of C, N, P and S in grassland soils: a model. Biogeochemistry 5:109–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pollard D, Thompson SL (1995) The effect of doubling stomatal resistance in a global climate model. Glob Planet Change 10:129–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prentice C, Cramer W, Harrison SP, Leemans R, Monserud RA, Solomon AM (1992) A global biome model based on plant physiology and dominance, soil properties and climate. J Biogeogr 19:117–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Priante-Filho N, Vourlitis GL, Hayashi MMS, Nogueira JS, Campelo JH Jr, Nunes PC, Sanches L, Couto EG, Hoeger W, Raiter F, Trienweiler JL, Miranda EJ, Priante PC, Pereira LC, Biudes MS, Fritzen CL, Lacerda M, Suli GS, Shiraiwa S, Silveira M (2004) Comparison of the mass and energy exchange of a pasture and a mature transitional tropical forest of the southern Amazon Basin during a seasonal transition. Glob Change Biol 10:863–876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu GY, Momii K, Yano T, Lascano RJ (1999) Experimental verification of a mechanistic model to partition evapotranspiration into soil water and plant evaporation. Agric For Meteorol 93:79–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raich JW, Rastetter EB, Melillo JM, Kicklighter DW, Steudier PA, Peterson BJ, Grace AL, Moore B, Vorosmarty CJ (1991) Potential net primary productivity in South America: application of a global model. Ecol Appl 1:399–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ratter JA, Askew GP, Montgomery RF, Gifford DR (1978) Observations on the vegetation of northeastern Mato Grosso. II. Forests and soils of the Rio Suia-Missu area. Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 203:191–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J, Cabral OMR, Fisch G (1993) Transpiration from an Amazonian rainforest calculated from stomatal conductance measurements. Agric For Meteorol 65:175–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha HR, Freitas HC, Rosolem R, Negrón JR, Tannus R, Ligo MA, Cabral OM, Silva DM (2002) Measurements of CO2 exchange over a woodland savanna (Cerrado sensu stricto) in southeast Brazil. Biota Neotrop 2:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Rocha HR, Goulden ML, Miller SD, Menton MC, Pinto LDVO, Freitas HC, Figueira AMS (2004) Seasonality of water and heat fluxes over a tropical forest in eastern Amazonia. Ecol Appl 14:22–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha HR, Manzi AO, Cabral OM, Miller SD, Goulden ML, Saleska SR, RCoupe N., Wofsy SC, Borma LS, Artaxo P, Vourlitis G., Nogueira JS, Cardoso FL, Nobre AD, Kruijt B., Freitas HC, von Randow C, Aguiar RG. Maia JF. (2009) Patterns of water and heat flux across a biome gradient from tropical forest to savanna in Brazil. Journal of Geophysical Research, G00B12. doi:10.1029/2007JG000640.

  • Rocha HR, Sellers PJ, Collatz GJ, Wright IR, Grace J (1996) Calibration and use of the SiB2 model to estimate water vapour and carbon exchange at the ABRACOS forest sites. In: Gash JHC, Nobre C, Roberts JM, Victoria RL (eds) Amazonian deforestation and climate, 1st edn. Wiley, New York, pp 459–473.

  • Running SW, Gower ST (1991) Forest–BGC, a general model of forest ecosystem processes for regional applications, II, Dynamic allocation and nitrogen budgets. Tree Physiol 9:147–160

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sanches L, Valentini CMA, Pinto Junior OB, Nogueira JS, Vourlitis GL, Biudes MS, Silva CJ, Bambi P, Lobo FA (2008) Seasonal and interannual litter dynamics of a tropical semideciduous forest of the southern Amazon Basin, Brazil. J Geophys Res 113:G04007. doi:10.1029/2007JG000593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos SNM (2001) Modelo de fluxos de energia, água e CO2 aplicado em ecossistema de floresta tropical. Viçosa, MG, 2001. Dissertation, Federal University of Viçosa

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos SNM, Costa MH (2004) A simple tropical ecosystem model of carbon, water and energy. Ecol model 176:291–312. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.10.032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellers PJ, Mintz Y, Sud Y, Dalcher A (1986) A simple biosphere model (SiB) for use within general circulation models. J Atmos Sci 43:505–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senna MCA (2004) Fração da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa absorvida pela Floresta Tropical Amazônica: uma comparação entre estimativas baseadas em modelagem, sensoriamento remoto e medições de campo. Dissertation, Federal University of Viçosa

    Google Scholar 

  • Senna MCA, Costa MH, Pinto LIC, Imbuzeiro HMA, Diniz LMF, Pires GF (2009) Challenges to reproduce vegetation structure and dynamics in Amazonia using a coupled climate-biosphere model. Earth Interactions 13:1–28. doi:10.1175/2009EI281.1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuttleworth WJ (1988) Evaporation from Amazonian rainforest. Proc R Soc Lond b233:321–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souza Filho JDC (2002) Variação sazonal dos componentes do balanço de radiação e energia sobre a floresta de Caxiuanã. Thesis, Federal University of Mato Grosso

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilani MT (2007) Estimativa da fapar utilizando três métodos para uma floresta de transição Amazônia-Cerrado. Dissertation, Federal University of Mato Grosso

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Randow C, Manzi AO, Kruijt B, Oliveira PJ, Zanchi FB, Silva RL, Hodnett MG, Gash JHC, Elbers JA, Waterloo MJ, Cardoso FL, Kabat P (2004) Comparative measurements and seasonal variations in energy and carbon exchange over forest and pasture in South West Amazonia. Theor Appl Climatol 78:5–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Vourlitis GL, Nogueira JS, Lobo FA, Sendall KM, de Paulo SR, Dias CAA, Pinto OB Jr, Andrade NLR (2008) Energy balance and canopy conductance of a tropical semi-deciduous forest of the southern Amazon Basin. Water Resour Res 44:W03412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vourlitis GL, Priante Filho N, Hayashi MMS, Nogueira JS, Caseiro FT, Campelo JH Jr (2002) Seasonal variations in the evapotranspiration of a transitional tropical forest of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Water Resour Res 38:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vourlitis GL, Priante-Filho N, Hayashi MMS, Nogueira JS de, Caseiro FT, Raiter F, Campelo-Júnior JH (2004) The role of seasonal variations in meteorology on the net CO2 exchange of a Brazilian transitional tropical forest. Ecological Applications 14(4), Suppl.:S89–S100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward FI (1987) Climate and plant distribution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Yu Z, Pollard D, Cheng L (2006) On continental-scale hydrologic simulations with a coupled hydrologic model. J Hydrol 331:110–124. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.05.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Correa da Costa, 2367, Bairro Boa Esperança, Cuiabá, MT, 78.060-900, Brazil

    Luciana Sanches

  2. Department of Physics, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

    Nara Luísa Reis de Andrade & Denilton Gaio

  3. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil

    Marcos Heil Costa

  4. Soil and Rural Engineering Department, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

    Marcelo de Carvalho Alves

Authors
  1. Luciana Sanches
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nara Luísa Reis de Andrade
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcos Heil Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marcelo de Carvalho Alves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Denilton Gaio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luciana Sanches.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sanches, L., de Andrade, N.L.R., Costa, M.H. et al. Performance evaluation of the SITE® model to estimate energy flux in a tropical semi-deciduous forest of the southern Amazon Basin. Int J Biometeorol 55, 303–312 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0337-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-010-0337-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation